Sofiane El Bakkali shed tears after losing the 3000-meter steeplechase in a dramatic finish at the World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo, Japan. He lost the race unexpectedly in the final meters.
El Bakkali, who typically employs a tactical approach of starting from the back and observing the race in the early laps, managed to overtake all his competitors in the last two laps, nearing the finish line in the lead. However, the surprise came from New Zealand’s George Beamish, who snatched victory in the final meters with a time of 8 minutes and 33.88 seconds, leaving El Bakkali in second place with a time of 8 minutes and 33.56 seconds.
The disappointment was significant for El Bakkali, who was very close to making history as the first Moroccan athlete to win the world championship title three consecutive times in this distance, a feat only achieved by legendary Kenyans Moses Kiptanui and Ezekiel Kemboi before him.
El Bakkali’s tears reflected the magnitude of his disappointment, but at the same time embodied the fighting spirit and determination for which the Moroccan champion is known, as he continues to represent national athletics at major global events.
Despite losing gold, the silver medal remains a valuable achievement that adds to the record of Moroccan sports and proves that El Bakkali is still a formidable competitor in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
